In the realm of American politics, around a hundred days have passed since tech mogul Elon Musk assumed the role of ‘senior advisor’ to President Donald Trump and chief of the self-styled ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ (DOGE). The perceptions about the 53-year-old Tesla founder, immersed in the political scenarios of the country, have inclined towards envisioning him as a potential architect of turmoil in the nation and its administrative functions.
During a recent conversation about the future prospects of DOGE, Musk aligned himself with the spiritual figure of Buddha, an analogy that incited substantial criticism, most noticeably from Kristen Kavanaugh, who had previously headed the department focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at Tesla. She vehemently insisted that Musk and Buddha are polar opposites in essence.
She illustrated this divergence between Musk and Buddha by enumerating three crucial dissimilarities. At a press meet in the West Wing’s Roosevelt Room with a selection of mainstream journalists, Musk and his high-ranking DOGE colleagues reflected upon their tenure under the Trump administration.
Musk had hinted at stepping away from his DOGE responsibilities later in the month; when queried about his potential successor, his response was both unexpected and controversial. ‘Does Buddhism require Buddha?’ he queried, postulating that the religious doctrine was arguably more potent in his absence.
Despite his contentious alignment with Buddha, Musk’s actions as the DOGE chief and close associate of Trump demonstrate a stark departure from the spiritual teachings. His strategic plans conceived since being a part of the DOGE administration appeared to have been engineered to unsettle the U.S. government. Kavanaugh pointedly reminded Musk that he is far removed from Buddha’s ideology.
‘Elon, you are not Buddha,’ reiterated the former DEI head at Tesla, emphasizing the disparity between Musk’s and Buddha’s principles. ‘While Buddha propagated kindness, Musk endorses anarchy. The Sanskrit term for compassion is karuna, one of Buddha’s pivotal teachings. It embodies the desire to liberate others from suffering.’
Kavanaugh’s analysis indicated that Musk’s endeavors since joining the White House have been disturbingly contrary to public welfare. Among the most glaring examples is Musk’s intent of diminishing DEI plans in corporate and federal spheres. Following Trump’s command, Musk and his team have been dismantling DEI programs throughout government entities.
A second juxtaposition that Kavanaugh highlighted stems from their contrasting stances on wealth: ‘Musk is the planet’s wealthiest individual, while Buddha relinquished all riches.’ As per the Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, Musk’s estimated net worth amounts to approximately $332 billion.
Ancient Buddhist scripture identifies greed, or ‘raga’, as a source of the majority of worldly issues. Musk’s accumulation of wealth and utilisation of his significant influence to overthrow systems devised for aiding the underprivileged is perceived as the epitome of greed, which starkly contradicts Buddha’s philosophy.
The third fundamental contrast lies in their views on serving humanity. ‘While Buddha advocated service to mankind, Musk seems intent on serving his own interests,’ Kavanaugh pointed out. Since his induction into Trump’s administration, Musk has repeatedly exhibited that his primary focus rests on endorsing his brand and magnifying his influence.
In his initiative to downsize the federal workforce, Musk even proposed buyouts to all 2.3 million federal employees, which further underlines his self-serving agenda. In contrast, Buddha exhorted embracing ‘dana’ or generosity. Generosity in Buddhism doesn’t translate to an occasional act of charity but is regarded as a lifestyle – an embodiment of a generous spirit and selflessness in everyday dealings with people.
Lion’s Roar elucidates Buddha’s teachings: ‘The act of generosity is significantly more than a route to happiness, inner tranquility, and spiritual enlightenment; it forms the way of life.’ These principles clearly contradict with Musk’s approach, who is perceived as mainly pursuing personal interests.
The stark dissimilarities between Elon Musk and Buddha make the comparison rather unjust. The latter’s teachings have no bearing on the former’s actions and personal values — they are, in fact, opposites.
In reality, Musk’s actions and efforts are more likely aimed at undermining what Buddha preached than promoting it. This makes the comparison between the two even more too far fetched.
In conclusion, any attempt to draw parallels between Musk and Buddha seems more like a fanciful misinterpretation, rather than an enlightening analogy. The values and inner ethos of the two figures are fundamentally inconsistent, reflecting a contrast more than any similarity.